Funeral Notice: Joan Theresa Fuhrman
Joan Theresa Fuhrman, aged 92, of Jordan, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 2, 2024.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11AM on Friday, October 11, 2024 with a Time of Gathering from 9:30-10:45AM prior, all at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 313 2nd Street East, Jordan. Father Neil Bakker will preside with Father Kevin Clinton concelebrating.
Joan will be laid to rest next to her husband at Spirit Hill Cemetery.
Joan was born November 5, 1931, to Mathias and Anna Kraemer of Parkers Prairie, MN. Joan was a gentle soul whose close relationship with God guided her daily living. Her life was defined by love for all, especially her deep love for her family.
Joan attended Parkers Prairie High School where she graduated salutatorian. She then went on to attend St. Mary’s in Minneapolis where she graduated as a Registered Nurse. Her first assignment was to work at St. Mary’s Hospital in newborn care. As a lover of babies, she often said this was her all-time favorite assignment. Joan then went on to the VA Hospital in Minneapolis where she met the love of her life, Ray Fuhrman, through a mutual nurse friend. They were married in 1955 and had seven children.
Joan and Ray moved their growing family several times because of Ray’s sales occupation. They settled in Jordan, MN, Ray’s hometown, in 1972. Joan continued on as a Registered Nurse at Mala Strana nursing home in New Prague for 19 years. She had an innate ability and amazing energy to juggle the many demands of taking care of her family along with exhausting shifts at the nursing home. She was an active member of St. John’s parish in Jordan for 52 years. There she volunteered in many roles which in later years included the prayer line. Joan was always a prayer warrior for all who needed prayers.
Joan retired at the age of 60 and cherished time with her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Joan and Ray spent 24 years as Texas snowbirds and enjoyed time with family and friends who joined them. While in Texas, Joan volunteered as a tutor to teach young immigrant children English. Joan and Ray also enjoyed many summers on Lake Ida where they had a mobile home. They also served Meals on Wheels, through their mid-80’s, to the homebound in the Jordan area.
Her special hugs and kisses, singing of “ditties”, family nicknames and apple-bitties will be forever missed.
Joan is forever remembered by her children, Mark (Jeanne) Fuhrman, Terri (Jim) Grider, Paul (Melissa) Fuhrman, David Fuhrman, Jean (Pete) Busch, Nancy (Kip) Kemper, Florence (Tom) Hansen; grandchildren, John, Angela (Cory), Dan (Cheryl), Rick (Stephanie), Meagan, William, Jacob, Sam, Joan, Stephen, Michael (Alexandra), Noah, Lauren (Brandon), Joe, Ben, Ryan, Grace, and Abbey; great-grandchildren, Hadley, Lucas, Noah, Landon, Mikala, Becca, Caleb, Vincent, Justin, Matthias, Eli, and Emma; and other loving family and friends.
Joan is preceded in death by her husband, Ray; parents Matt and Ann Kraemer; brothers, Ray (Ethel), George (Lois), Ralph (Audrie); sisters, Evelyn Kraemer, Ethel (Tony) Comas, Florence (Luther) Rodvik.